SPOTLIGHTED BLOSSOM

One longtime favorite technique that I haven't played with for awhile is the Spotlighting Technique. There are various ways of doing spotlighting, but I think the most striking path to take is framing the spotlighted area in a coordinating circle just a wee larger. It remains part of the whole, but brings it to the fore just perfectly.

I have always loved this sprig of spring blossoms. Although I'm never able to decide whether it is apple or cherry blossom. Whatever. I guess it doesn't matter. It is just so lovely. And -- as a matter of fact -- it is perfect for the spotlighting technique.

The individual blossom that I had chosen to spotlight seemed to be the ideal choice since it was the only flower fully facing the viewer. Also, I like the fact that its position is not quite centered, a spot that makes a composition more pleasing to the eye. I used to have a professor who always said, "There's a reason they call it DEAD CENTER." True, so true. 

To add color to my spotlighted flower, I brought out my beloved Prismacolor Pencils. And went to work with varying shades of pink. 

Unfortunately, I colored my flower first. THEN I was left with the task of matching the cardstock colors to the pinks I had chosen. Alas, none of the current Stampin' Up! pinks were quite right. So, I was forced to dig into my retired stash of cardstock for both the pink and the green. That's always OK with me because so many of those retired colors are still lovely in my eyes and I still am thrilled to be able to bring them into my creations once in awhile. 

I must admit that, with the exception of the Whisper White cardstock, the circle punches and the Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits, this card is basically created with retired product, including the pretty and versatile Fancy Fans embossing folder, the ribbons and the cardstock colors.

A little view from the side shows the beautiful contrast in dimension when the spotlighted portion is popped up with a Stampin' Dimensional right over the matching area that had been stamped in plain ol' black.

Do you have an oldie but goodie technique that you revisit on occasion? Share with us what that might be. 

Spotlighted

Smiles.